Tag Archives: agbonlahor

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Belgium international striker Christian Benteke in a 7million move from Genk.

The 21-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

Villa had two initial bids rejected for Benteke but finally agreed a fee before the player flew into Birmingham on Friday.

Done deal: Christian Benteke has signed for Aston Villa

Benteke is Villa's eighth signing of the summer and takes their spending during that period to just under 25 million.

He has been a major target in recent weeks for Villa manager Paul Lambert, who has watched the player in action on several occasions and feels he is the ideal kind of forward to supplement penalty-box predator Darren Bent and the speedy Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Benteke has netted three times in
five games this season after being on target 18 times during the 2011-12
campaign in all competitions.

He was also scored for his country for the first time in the 4-2 win over Holland earlier this month in what was his fifth cap.

He told The Sun: 'When you've played with a manager before, especially one as good as Martin O'Neill, then you are going to be linked with him.

'But it's just pure speculation. I can assure Villa fans I haven’t heard anything about it and I’m happy here.'

Agbonlahor scored the winner for Villa in their pre-season friendly against the Chicago Fire on Saturday night before being forced off with an ankle injury.

He departed in the second half after taking a knock, but Villa swiftly allayed concerns over the severity of the problem by posting on Twitter: 'Gabby Agbonlahor injury not as bad as first feared. Out for two weeks.'

Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the winner for Aston Villa in their pre-season friendly against the Chicago Fire on Saturday night before being forced off with an ankle injury.

The 25-year-old forward headed home Chris Herd's cross in the 29th minute to secure the Barclays Premier League club a second straight 1-0 success on their United States tour.

Villan of the piece: Agbonlahor scored the winner, but was later removed after an injury scare

He departed in the second half after taking a knock, but Villa swiftly allayed concerns over the severity of the problem by posting on Twitter: 'Gabby Agbonlahor injury not as bad as first feared. Out for two weeks.'

Darren Bent played no part due to a slight thigh strain. Paul Lambert's side, who beat the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, now head to Portland for a game on Tuesday.

But Clattenburg and his assistant failed to spot the incident and the visitors survived to earn their 16th draw of the campaign.

Alex McLeish's side deserved their share of the spoils on the balance of play and were again left to rue failing to be more clinical in front of goalGabriel Agbonlahor, Chris Herd and Charles N'Zogbia all failed to make the most of gilt edged chances and Albion's Ben Foster was the busier of the two keepers.

The return of experienced defender Richard Dunne after a two and a half month lay-off with a broken collarbone also brought a steadying presence to the Villa back four.

Villa looked full of attacking intent in the early stages and Charles N'Zogbia found Stephen Warnock in space and his shot was blocked by Billy Jones.

But Albion nearly caught out Villa during their first serious counter-attack.

Carlos Cuellar failed to make clean contact on his attempted clearance from Shane Long's cross-shot after a determined run by the Republic of Ireland striker. The loose ball broke to 11-goal leading scorer Peter Odemwingie whose close-range back heel was blocked.

The first clearcut chance fell to Villa midfielder Chris Herd after 26 minutes.

Dunne showed good control to the right of Ben Foster's goal before sending over a low cross which landed in Herd's path. He struck his shot firmly enough but it flew straight at Foster who was able to make the save.

Feeling the heat: Villa boss Alex McLeish

Agbonlahor, without a goal in 20 league games, then used his pace to get clear of the Baggies back four. But his touch was heavy inside the area and Foster was able to block his eventual shot.

Foster then blocked another shot from Agbonlahor, whose pace was causing problems for Jones, with his feet.

Warnock became the first player to be yellow carded after 36 minutes for bringing down Long who needed treatment before being able to resume.

Hutton followed Warnock into referee Mark Clattenburg's notebook after pulling back Jerome Thomas.

Cheeky: West Brom fans with a show of support for McLeish

Brunt looked to handle a ball into the box from Hutton but Villa's penalty appeals were waved aside.Albion were incensed when denied what appeared to be a clearcut penalty four minutes into the second half.

Ridgewell climbed above the Villa defence to power in a header from Graham Dorrans' corner. Hutton, who had already been booked, appeared to scoop the ball over the bar with his arm. But Clattenburg turned aside Albion's appeals.

Albion were looking sharper and Gareth McAuley headed just wide from a Brunt free-kick.But Foster again came to Albion's rescue when he blocked a fierce close range attempt from N'Zogbia after he was completely unmarked from Agbonlahor's accurate cross.

Tempers were becoming frayed and Clark and Heskey were booked in quick succession for challenge on McAuley.

Cuellar came to Villa's rescue when he headed Odemwingie's shot off the line.Albion were now looking more dangerous and Jonas Olsson was only inches too high with a header from a Thomas cross.

Villa probed for a winner in the closing stages and a mix-up between Olsson and Foster saw the ball break to Agbonlahor.

His cross was turned back by Heskey to Herd whose shot was blocked by Olsson.Given produced a superb save with seconds remaining to keep out an Odemwingie volley from Thomas' cross.

Villa, who included six academy
products in their line-up, enjoyed the better of the possession for
lengthy spells despite having to reorganise after injuries to James
Collins and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

But they lacked a cutting edge in
front of goal despite the efforts of 20-year-old Andreas Weimann to
unsettle the Black Cats back four.

It was Sunderland who created the
better opportunities particularly in the second half when Villa appeared
to tire and Stephane Sessegnon was a threat.

But poor finishing and some whole-hearted defending by the Villa back four kept them at bay.

Villa began promisingly and came
close to taking the lead inside the first 60 seconds. Agbonlahor charged
down a clearance from Simon Mignolet from Phil Bardsley's back pass.

Weimann was first to react to the rebound and Mignolet turned aside his chip shot.

Agbonlahor, without a goal in 18
Premier League games, looked lively and his goal-bound shot struck
Matthew Kilgallon and flew over his own crossbar.

Old face: Craig Gardner spent the early part of his career at Villa… and was sent off here

Mignolet was the busier of the two
keepers in the early stages and he tipped a low drive from Charles
N'Zogbia around the post. Weimann appealed in vain for a foul after he
appeared to be clipped by Michael Turner just outside the box.

The home side continued to look the more threatening and Agbonlahor had a shot blocked by Turner on the edge of the box.

Weimann forced his way through two challenges before firing into the side netting.

Rough and tumble: The game was a hard-fought affair, rather than one lavished with real quality

With Asamoah Gyan set to leave the club permanently in the summer and Nicklas Bendtner's loan deal coming to an end, O'Neill has made a front player his No 1 target in the summer. And having worked with Agbonlahor at Villa, he sees him as the ideal man.

12m target: Agbonlahor is wanted by former boss Martin O'Neill

But, according to the Daily Mirror, Villa will demand 12million for the 25-year-old, who is the club's acting captain while Stiliyan Petrov receives treatment for acute leukaemia.

Agbonlahor came through Villa's famed academy and has made 252 appearances for the club, scoring 61 goals.

One Aston Villa striker may have been ruled out of the England squad with an injury but another returning to fitness is hoping he can get back in there.

Gabby Agbonlahor was withdrawn from the squad ahead of the friendly with Spain in November, when he could have won his fourth cap.

And a persistent hamstring injury meant he has missed the past month – but he was back in action in Villa's 0-0 draw with Wigan.

Return: Gabriel Agbonlahor is hoping to get back in the England squad

After Darren Bent was stretchered out of the game with an ankle injury in the 75th minute – ruling him out of the England team to face Holland on Wednesday – Agbonlahor said he now wants to be competing against his team-mate for a starting spot.

The 25-year-old said: 'I think I was never going to be in this squad because I've been out for a few weeks.

'I just want to get back playing, getting my fitness back up, I'm not ready for England yet.

'Hopefully I'll be looking forward to getting some more games and some more goals and try and break into the squad for the next one.

'Hopefully I can get myself on the plane [to the Euros], it would be fantastic.'

If loyalty is a key facet of representing your country then Agbonlahor fits the bill perfectly.

He is the longest-serving player at the club which he joined as a youth player in 1994 and is their second-highest Premier League goal scorer with 53, closing in on Dwight Yorke's 60.

Stricken: His team-mate for club and country, Darren Bent, was injured against Wigan

And he was rewarded for his loyalty by manager Alex McLeish who gave him the captain's armband for the first time despite facing competition from more experienced players.

McLeish said: 'I could have made it Shay [Given], I could have made it James Collins, but I thought I might have made my head ache with that thinking and who to choose.

'So I thought I'd give it to the guy who's the longest-serving experienced player as they do on the continent.

'And Gabby was thrilled to get it. It was great I didn't think he could play the whole game, I said you might have to pass the armband on during the game, but he did.'

And Agbonlahor added: 'I never would have dreamed of being captain of my home club so to get the opportunity I'm really pleased and I'd like to thank the gaffer for giving me that responsibility.